Anne Fadiman | Medical Anthropology and Cultural Studies

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

Name: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
Brand: Fehmerling Books
SKU: 9780374525644
Price: 18.00 USD
Availability: InStock

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

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An Anne Fadiman National Book Critics Circle Winner on Medical Anthropology and Culture

When young Hmong refugee Lia Lee begins suffering severe epileptic seizures in Merced, California, her American doctors diagnose a dangerous neurological condition requiring strict pharmaceutical regimens. However, her parents view her condition through traditional Hmong animism as qaug dab peg—a spiritual state of profound honor where the spirit catches you and you fall down.

Journalist Anne Fadiman explores the tragic, heartbreaking clash between Western scientific medicine and ancient Hmong cultural beliefs, examining language barriers, institutional misunderstandings, and cross-cultural ethics.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Anne Fadiman delivers a compassionate, masterpiece work of medical anthropology and narrative non-fiction. An indispensable text for healthcare professionals, anthropologists, and readers interested in immigrant experiences.

Edition & Specifications

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Pages: 341

Format: Paperback

Publication Date: 1998

ISBN: 9780374525644

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